The Sedibeng Marathon on December 8 provides Gauteng road runners with a great opportunity to secure an early Comrades qualifier and post a seeding time.
The event, which is also a Two Oceans qualifier, offers runners a relatively flat route that starts and finishes at the Vaal Showgrounds in Vereeniging and so is also a perfect marathon-distance training run.
Runners who are not looking for a full 42.2km distance also have the option of a 21.1km or 10km to work on their speed, while there is a 5km fun run option available.
The qualifying criteria for next year’s Comrades Marathon is to complete a standard 42.2km marathon in under 4 hours and 50 minutes.
“The Sedibeng Marathon is a perfect opportunity for runners in Gauteng to use this for their qualify and seeding times for Comrades and Two Oceans,” said event spokesman Frans Chauke. “This is a relatively flat route so runners who are looking for a qualifying race should find this event perfect for some fairly quick times.
“It is also early in the qualifying season, so it will help runners get in their qualifying for Comrades early and they can then concentrate on training without the pressure of having to fit in a race.”
“We are expecting a strong field of local runners from Gauteng and nearby areas as well as a few athletes who have indicated they will be travelling from the coast for a bit of altitude training and racing.”
Parking and car guards will be available at the grounds. Free shirts are available for the early online entrants.
Online entries are available at http://bit.ly/EnterSedibeng2019. More information can be found at https://finishtime.co.za/sedibeng2019/
